First Published in AppsNow.us
Hybrid Mobile Application combines the native and HTML 5 apps. Hybrid is defined as a web app built using HTML 5 and JavaScript which is then wrapped in a thin native container such as Phone-Gap hence providing access to native application features.
In Hybrid Mobile app, the developers write portions of the application’s code in web technology at the same time they maintain the native APIs. The purpose of the native features is to enable the use of servers that use operating system APIs in embedding HTML thus creating a bridge that connects the device APIs and the browser. The bridge created enables the hybrid application to use and optimize the features that modem offers.
At this stage, the hybrid mobile developers can either code their bridge or use the available solutions like the Phone-Gap which offers uniform JavaScript that is consistent with specific devices.
Native apps work only to a particular mobile platform, for example, Android which uses the programming language which the platform supports while HTML 5 apps uses web technologies such as HTML 5, CSS and JavaScript. However, HTML 5 apps developers encounter limitations during coding and management. Therefore Hybrid apps combines the best (and/or the worst) elements of HTML 5 and native apps.
HOW TO APPROACH THE DEVELOPMENT
There are two ways to develop Mobile apps using the Hybrid approach. These are: Local and server approaches. The web feature of the app can be in form of a web page in the server or a collection of media files, CSS, JavaScript and HTML files which are embedded in the app code then stored on the device locally.
In local approach, the HTML and JavaScript code is packaged inside the mobile app binary consistent with the native app. In this approach, the REST APIs are used to move data back and forth in the mobile device and the cloud.
The local approach enables the developer to code the app independently, however some solutions come with the native app container which empowers the developer to build the native app effectively. In some circumstances, the solutions enable the developer to use the native language features that are customized in the native container in regard to the purpose of the app.
The advantage of this approach is that the user has a smoother experience since he/she does not wait the pulling of the interface code between the cloud and the phone by the app. Moreover, in case of unavailability of internet connection, the app is able to work offline.
In the server approach, there is pulling the UI code from the server. Also, this app is that it makes it easy to update and improve the user interface thus appealing to the user. Furthermore, developers are not required to go through the tedious submission process and approval in case the HTML code is hosted on the server.
CHALLENGES
The major reason of choosing the Hybrid development is its best dynamic platform support, and the quick process of building the app. However, there are challenges that often arise when working across the native and HTML 5 platforms.
Some UI features might not be compatible in iOS 6 when using frameworks such as jQuery and Sencha.
The developers may be required to write extra code in C or Java for Android in order to meet the native features and functionality.
When the app uses jQuery Mobile, programmers encounter a lot of problems when inserting headers and footers since they usually move up and down from where they are placed. This is because the page view location changes whenever the user is selecting drop down menus or the key pad pop ups. However, they can only be rectified by placing headers and footers in an absolute position whenever the key pad is viewed.
In most Android versions, the UI problems are also common. This is because jQuery Mobile has stopped supporting some certain Android 2.3 UI features.
When the app is developed by the server option, the user does not get prompt results since he/she waits for the app to interpret and display the required code from the server.In the case there is no internet connection, the app is unavailable.
CONCLUSION
The hybrid Mobile app development is the best of all approaches in the Mobile app development since it combines the best elements of the native apps and HTML 5 apps. To overcome the challenges in the development of Hybrid Mobile apps, both the local and server approach should be embraced whereby the system hosts the web pages on the web server then cache the HTML resources locally.
More details : http://www.slideshare.net/cognizant/hybrid-mobile-application-analysis-and-guidelines